Frequently Asked Questions

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Helping Seniors with Recurrent UTIs: What Family Members Can Do

How you can recognize their symptoms and avoid antibiotic use when unnecessary? Understanding and managing a senior’s UTI symptoms can be tricky, but prevention is possible with the proper education and resources.

The side effects of OAB medication and how they impact patient compliance

78% of people who start OAB drugs stop taking them within a year. Here are the harsh side effects to watch out for, plus the natural OAB supplement that can help.

Overactive Bladder Resource

Struggling with OAB symptoms? Here are the answers to all of your burning questions.

Is there a correlation between overactive bladder and UTIs?

Ever wonder if overactive bladder and UTIs are correlated? Board Certified Urologist Dr. Yana Barbalat breaks it down for us.

How much cranberry juice or dried cranberries will give you 36mg of PACs?

Cranberry juice has been studied for prevention of urinary tract infections and 240 – 300 ml of cranberry juice in those studies yielded 36-40 mg of PACs. However, this is something that cannot be generalized to all cranberry drinks and juices.

Treating Incontinence and Recurrent UTIs in Elderly Patients

Incontinence and recurrent UTIs often co-exist in the same population of geriatric patients. Therefore, it can be tricky to figure out whether to treat a UTI based on the degree of incontinence.

Official Urologist Protocol for Treating UTIs

As a urology community, we have guidelines that can help guide our management but very often doctors differ in their practice based on their experience and training. There is also a constant influx of new data that can guide us one way or another. 

Is it Safe to Use D-mannose in patients with diabetes?

D-mannose is a sugar found naturally in many fruits and berries. However, unlike glucose, a sugar that we have all heard about, D-mannose is absorbed very slowly in the gut making it safe for people whith diabetes. 

How to stay hydrated and prevent UTIs during Ramadan

During Ramadan, fasting can cause major dehydration and other complications, like UTIs. Here’s how to make this your healthiest, most hydrated Ramadan yet.

What is the role of ureaplasma in UTIs?

Ureaplasma is a bacterium that is sometimes found in the vagina. This bacterium typically comes from a current or previous sexual partner and lives in the vagina along with the other bacteria that co-exist in there, often not causing any symptoms or long-term issues.

Skene’s Glands and UTIs: What’s the deal?

Skene’s glands consists of two small ducts located along both sides of the female urethra. They are composed of the same tissue as the clitoris and play a vital role in both urinary and sexual health. Occasionally, when people have frequent urinary tract infections, the skene’s glands can get recurrently infected with bacteria and inflamed.

What are the most common UTI-related questions a urologist gets?

UTIs are very distressing and tend to really impact one’s quality of life. Some patients develop recurrent urinary tract infections and that’s generally when they get referred to a urologist. Doctor Yana Barbalat answers the most common UTI-related questions she gets. 

How do I know the difference between Interstitial Cystitis and UTI?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) happens when bacteria adheres to the bladder wall and infects parts of the urinary tract. Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a painful bladder condition with an unknown cause. How can we tell the difference between the two? Board Certified Urologist, Yana Barbalat gives us her take on what sets these two conditions apart. 

Are UTIs more common as we age?

UTIs tend to peak at two time periods in a woman’s life. Typically, between the ages of 18 and 30, and again after the age of 60. In men, UTIs are uncommon until after the age of 60. Let's break it down to better understand why we're more prone to UTIs as we age. 

What’s the most effective UTI test?

The first step to treating a UTI is testing it. Here’s everything you need to know about UTI testing — and how accurate results make all the difference. 

How to talk to your partner about UTIs

Communication is key in any relationship, and the same goes for talking about your UTI struggles. Here’s how to chat about UTIs with your partner and what they can do to support you best.

What is an Embedded UTI?

You may be familiar with recurrent UTIs, but do you know what an embedded UTI is? Although not a medical term, an embedded UTI is from a persistent source of infection and will often come back after the use of antibiotics to reinfect the urine.

Summertime UTIs: Are we more prone to UTIs in hot weather?

Our top tips and prevention techniques to stop summer UTIs before they start — from keeping your bikini dry to upgrading your daily supplements.

My Painful Vulva: My Chronic Vulvar Pain Journey

My vaginal pain began 3 years ago, with a throbbing and burning pain originally isolated to during and after intercourse. That pain quickly escalated to every-day soreness, itchiness, and shooting pains up my vaginal walls.

Does Getting a UTI Mean I Have Poor Hygiene Practices?

Can poor hygiene practices be the cause of my UTIs? Board Certified Urologist Dr. Yana Barbalat answers this question. 

Team 36 mg PACs or Team D-mannose?

Wondering what prevention method to take for your UTIs? So much is said about D-mannose and cranberry PACs. Board Certified Urologist Doctor Dana Rice breaks down the pros and cons of each supplement.

Is Being Prone to UTIs Hereditary?

Struggling with recurrent UTIs? It might be your genetics. Here’s how hereditary frequent UTIs work and what you can do to prevent them.

Spinal Cord Injuries & UTIs: Your Guide to Preventing UTIs

From bladder problems to catheters, here’s everything you need to know about spinal cord injuries and UTIs - including how to prevent them.

Stress impacting your sleep? Tips to help sleep more & stress less

Tired of stressed-out sleepless nights? Follow these tips to stay relaxed, improve your sleep, and steer clear of health issues like UTIs.